Hull KR move to bring in St Helens hooker

Hull KR have signed young St Helens hooker Aaron Smith on a one-month loan.

The 21-year-old is a member of the Super League leaders’ first-team squad and is a previous England Under-18s representative.

Smith has spent the past five weeks on loan at Rovers’ partner club York City Knights but could now make his Super League debut at Wakefield Trinity on Sunday.

Hull KR have lost two hookers - captain Shaun Lunt and George Lawler - for lengthy periods due to injury and scrum-half Chris Atkin filled in there during Sunday’s narrow loss to Leeds Rhinos.

Head coach Tim Sheens said: “We’re thankful to St Helens for allowing Aaron to come across to us.

“He’s a bright young player with good speed and awareness out of dummy half who gives us specialist cover in that position until Shaun Lunt is available.

“Aaron was brought to our attention whilst playing for York with some strong performances and positive feedback from the coaching staff there, as well as some of our own players who played alongside him.

“It’s a good sign for the system and our partnership with York that Aaron was struggling to get game time at the start of the season given the depth in the St Helens squad, but he’s gone to the Knights, worked hard and now got an opportunity to show what he can do in Super League.

“Aaron trained with us for the first time today and we’ll monitor how he settles in over the rest of the week before deciding whether he’ll go into the side to face Wakefield on Sunday.”